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National market update

Existing-Home Sales Inch Forward in January, Price Growth Accelerates

WASHINGTON (February 23, 2016) — Existing-home sales crept forward in January to the highest annual rate in six months, and subpar supply levels propelled price growth to the fastest increase since last April, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The West was the only region to see a decline in sales in January.

The Numbers Are In: Yup, 2016 Is Off to a Good Start in Home Sales

We may be on the verge of spring, but housing and economic reports work on a bit of a lag time. We’ve only just gotten the major data reports for January, and it’s giving us a clear-eyed view of how the real estate market is measuring up this year. And yeah, things are looking good.

Existing home median price (January)

Housing Starts (January)

New home sales (December)

National economic indicators

Home ownership

4th Qtr 2015

+63.8%

4th Qtr 2014

+64.0%

The homeownership rate in the fourth quarter 2015 was 63.8 percent, down 0.2 (+/- 0.4)* percentage points from the fourth quarter 2014 rate of 64.0 percent. The homeownership rates in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West were not statistically different from the rates in the fourth quarter 2014.

New home sales

January 2016

-9.2%

December 2015

+8.2%

Sales of new single-family houses in January 2016 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 494,000. This is 9.2 percent (+/- 13.5%)* below the revised December 2015 estimate of 544,000.

Source: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

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Regional market updates

View market statistics for your region.

Click on the links below to view data from two different industry sources. Choose information on local prices & state sales from any of 178 metropolitan housing markets prepared by the National Association of REALTORS® or information on sales & price activity from local area markets in 25 states prepared by Clarus MarketMetrics.

Local Sales & Price Activity

Oscar Hernandez

Home Ownership matters…to people, to communities, and to America. Why? • For every two homes sold, one job is created in the U.S. • Each purchase generates as much as $60,000 in economic activity over time. Read more

Buying is now cheaper than renting in 74 percent of the nation’s largest cities. Low home prices and “rock-bottom” interest rates as well as tax advantages of homeownership are the reasons why it’s now cheaper to BUY a 2-bdrm home than to rent one. Check out this CNN Money article with the details. Read more

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, statements and/or ideas expressed in this Message Section do not reflect the ideas, policy, position, views or opinion of Move,Inc.

Consumer tips & hot properties

A New Approach to the Rent vs. Buy Calculation

Deciding whether to buy a home or keep renting is one thing. Is it worth it to splurge on a new home or stick with a gently used one? We delve into the data to find out.

Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, a real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, real estate radio, realtor.com® local community reports and local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by local MLSs and the National Association of REALTORS®.

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